1878.] Plants Used by Indians of the United States. 599 
ful purposes. In the spring the base of young leaves is eaten 
raw by the Indians. The seeds of both these species of palms 
are ground fine and eaten, and are not inferior to cocoa-nut. 
Shepherdia argentea (Buffalo berry), grows by water courses in 
mountainous districts of Central Utah. The habits of the tree 
are similar to those of the elderberry. It grows from ten to fif- 
teen feet high, bears abundantly, fruit red, small, roundish, sour, 
but has a pleasant taste. 
Amelanchier alnifolia (Service berry). aTh fruit of this bush is 
much esteemed by both Indians and Whites. 
Rhus integrifolia, produces abundance of red berries that are 
= very acid. Indians of Southern California place them in water to ` 
form a cool acid drink. 
Ribes mensiesti—Fruit very thorny, but Indians scald them to 
make them eatable. 
Simmondsia californica—The nuts of this plant yield a very 
-fine oil. Indians of Southern California use them as an article 
of food 
Arctostaphylos tomentosa, Manzanita of the Spanish.—The fruit 
is produced in clusters, and resembles a small apple. It is of an 
agreeable acid sweet, and is consumed largely by Indians and 
Mexicans, both in the ripe and dry state. Indians dry the berries 
in great quantities, and prepare a favorite drink from them. A 
quantity of the dried fruit is slightly pounded until the pulp is 
separated from the seeds and outer rinds, the flour or finely pounded 
pulp is separated and mixed with water which is allowed to stand 
until fermentation takes place, when it becomes intoxicating: This 
fruit, flour or dust is also eaten dry. The seeds after being 
deprived of their covering are ground fine and made into mush. 
A favorite mode of using the dried fruit is to grind it up fine and 
after mixing the flour with water, to form the mass into thin flat 
cakes which are baked in hot ashes. This bread is sweet and not 
disagreeable to the taste, though it has a repulsive, clay-like 
appearance of a reddish-brown color. All the western Indians 
relish this fruit in whatever way it is prepared. The Pah-Ute ` 
Indians use the leaves as tobacco and for medicine. 
Photinia arbutifolia—A beautiful tree whose: berries are eaten 
by Indians of California, ane first parched and proust; and then 
- made into mush. 
Vitis arizonica, V. californica.— Indians of California, Arizona and i : 
